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richardleis's review
5.0
Wow.
Brutal.
But wow. The storytelling is beautiful and relentless, beginning with flesh-eating donkeys and not letting up through storylines that weave and knot together by the end. I'm not sure what I think about that ending yet, but this is a remarkable book. It's a book that didn't give me nightmares the first night but instead kept waking me up to think about how reality often is this bleak and brutal. Maybe there's really not all that much comfort to be had in the beliefs and lies we tell ourselves about life, death, and eternity.
Brutal.
But wow. The storytelling is beautiful and relentless, beginning with flesh-eating donkeys and not letting up through storylines that weave and knot together by the end. I'm not sure what I think about that ending yet, but this is a remarkable book. It's a book that didn't give me nightmares the first night but instead kept waking me up to think about how reality often is this bleak and brutal. Maybe there's really not all that much comfort to be had in the beliefs and lies we tell ourselves about life, death, and eternity.
rock_n_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Grind Your Bones to Dust gave me a book hangover of the best kind. You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s the kind of story that leaves you breathless and dazed at the end, unsure of what to read next. I wanted to simultaneously hug and set this novel aside, and I mean that in the best way possible. I’m not sure I can articulate all of my thoughts on this book outside of a full-on conversation, but I will try my best.
The language in this book is out of this world. Day’s prose has a poetic quality, and there were lines so well-written that I had to read the words several times over before I could move on. You’ve all heard me gush about John Boden’s writing style, and the writing in this novel reminded me of his work at times. There are lines here that need to be savored and read at a slow pace. With regards to the characters, I haven’t encountered a villain as intense as James since I met “The Judge” in McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. The supporting characters here are relatable and memorable, and they all come with enough backstory for the reader to empathize and feel the pain of their plight.
The setting plays a large role in this story—it’s bleak and brutal, just like the events that take place along the way. The author’s descriptions of the landscape and the characters’ travels really add to the atmosphere of the story. I also thought that the pacing was spot-on. I was initially thrown off by the fact that there are no chapters within each section, but this did not affect the quality of the story for me. If anything, it propelled the story on, making it even more difficult for me to stop reading along the way. I enjoyed that each of the four parts brought different characters into focus, yet the others remain woven into the story in the background. It all came together perfectly at the end.
I could share even more thoughts on this novel, but I don’t want to give too much away. This is a book that you need to read for yourself and experience without spoilers. I teared-up several times while reading it—not only because of the brutality but due to the beauty in the writing. Each time I wanted to turn away, the words reached out like a hand on my chin, forcing my gaze back upon the story unfolding before me. I can’t imagine I’ll ever forget this one, nor do I want to.
The language in this book is out of this world. Day’s prose has a poetic quality, and there were lines so well-written that I had to read the words several times over before I could move on. You’ve all heard me gush about John Boden’s writing style, and the writing in this novel reminded me of his work at times. There are lines here that need to be savored and read at a slow pace. With regards to the characters, I haven’t encountered a villain as intense as James since I met “The Judge” in McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. The supporting characters here are relatable and memorable, and they all come with enough backstory for the reader to empathize and feel the pain of their plight.
The setting plays a large role in this story—it’s bleak and brutal, just like the events that take place along the way. The author’s descriptions of the landscape and the characters’ travels really add to the atmosphere of the story. I also thought that the pacing was spot-on. I was initially thrown off by the fact that there are no chapters within each section, but this did not affect the quality of the story for me. If anything, it propelled the story on, making it even more difficult for me to stop reading along the way. I enjoyed that each of the four parts brought different characters into focus, yet the others remain woven into the story in the background. It all came together perfectly at the end.
I could share even more thoughts on this novel, but I don’t want to give too much away. This is a book that you need to read for yourself and experience without spoilers. I teared-up several times while reading it—not only because of the brutality but due to the beauty in the writing. Each time I wanted to turn away, the words reached out like a hand on my chin, forcing my gaze back upon the story unfolding before me. I can’t imagine I’ll ever forget this one, nor do I want to.
unwrappingwords's review against another edition
5.0
Copy received in exchange for an honest review.
Dangerous, deadly creatures emerge from the night, leaving nothing but slaughter in their wake. But monstrous beasts aren’t the only evil haunting these pages. Enter a preacher and raven, determined to cause as much destruction as the flesh-eating donkeys in the desert.
It’s rare I would describe horror as beautiful but damn, is this book beautiful. And haunting and violent and absolutely, utterly mesmerising.
The novel is split into four parts, each distinct and fresh, feeling perfectly blended to the character the prose is following. Each character feels unique, with everything needed from a character; their own wants, desires, arcs. Their own voice. Each section bleeds wonderfully into the next, leaving the reader wanting more with every page. The imagery is striking, the landscape terrifying, the events gripping. Day paints a bleak, unrelenting world, in a story of loss, love, redemption and pure horror. This is not a novel for the faint of heart, but one which will, without a doubt, linger with the reader for a long time to come.
Dangerous, deadly creatures emerge from the night, leaving nothing but slaughter in their wake. But monstrous beasts aren’t the only evil haunting these pages. Enter a preacher and raven, determined to cause as much destruction as the flesh-eating donkeys in the desert.
It’s rare I would describe horror as beautiful but damn, is this book beautiful. And haunting and violent and absolutely, utterly mesmerising.
The novel is split into four parts, each distinct and fresh, feeling perfectly blended to the character the prose is following. Each character feels unique, with everything needed from a character; their own wants, desires, arcs. Their own voice. Each section bleeds wonderfully into the next, leaving the reader wanting more with every page. The imagery is striking, the landscape terrifying, the events gripping. Day paints a bleak, unrelenting world, in a story of loss, love, redemption and pure horror. This is not a novel for the faint of heart, but one which will, without a doubt, linger with the reader for a long time to come.
thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
5.0
Essentially it is one story told in four separate, yet intertwining, parts. Each part is told from the point of view of different characters, with their own distinct voices, something Day does so well. The first part begins with Louis Loving running for his life. He and business partner, Elliot, are in the desert surveying land for the new Interstate Highway, when they are attacked by four man-eating donkeys. It sounds ridiculous when put plainly, but the way the attack is described is nothing short of terrifying. It makes for a powerful opening to the book and gives the reader just a glimpse of the tremendous violence they can expect. Louis survives, mainly due to the actions of a local farmer and his family who are familiar with the terrifying beasts. But the action quickly escalates and the stakes are raised. Day sprinkles nuggets of information throughout the narrative, hinting at the wife and child Louis has left behind to travel the country surveying with his best friend, and a tense relationship with his brother. It all makes for compelling reading. As does the voice of the characters, speaking with the cadence of honest, hardworking, simple folk, yet brimming with intelligence and fascinating insight.
Part two is singularly set on the troubled and disturbing mind of Louis’s brother, James Hayte. Obsessed with finding “his” Ruth (Louis’s wife), he ventures out of the forest home he shared with his father and embarks on a blood-soaked mission. He offers pearls of wisdom and preaching to anyone he meets, yet they are never words of comfort and are more likely to send chills down the spine of anyone who encounters him, including the reader. His are the actions of a depraved madman, the acts of gratuitous violence shocking and wicked. But it is clear to us that Day doesn’t include these moments simply for shock value; this is a truly disturbed and violent character, and the author seems to be only committed to portraying his characters in the most genuine and natural way. Once James is unleashed on the surrounding community who either help him find his Ruth or suffer the consequences of their unwillingness, his character unravels in the most naturally malevolent way possible. The extremes to which he will go are very chilling and are not for the faint-of-heart but neither is this book. It is beautifully written and endlessly quotable, but Day is unflinching in his devotion to delivering the complete story, which includes the deranged James Hayte. One small glimmer of light in this part is Hayte’s interaction with his companion, a large raven whose skull is devoid of flesh and whose eyes often flash red. The bird identifies itself as Josh Billings, which is the pen name of 19th century American humourist Henry Wheeler Shaw, and its speech is written down on the page as Billings wrote. Although often light-hearted, their interactions don’t disguise the fact that Billings is equally as vicious as Hayte, and often quotes lines from his own work to encourage Hayte on his path.
The third part is told in first person, from the point of view of Elliot’s son, Nicky. He writes a letter to childhood friend, Daniel Loving, pretending it is from Daniel’s mother, Ruth, informing him of his father’s disappearance. When Daniel returns home, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to the friendship than meets the eye, not least of all a simmering resentment. As with the previous acts, layers of detail are subtly added to the back stories of the characters, offering insight in one breath, while creating intrigue in the next. Questions are posed and answered throughout, most often at different times, keeping the reader invested. The friction between family members and friends is compelling enough. But the added dimension of the supernatural and horrific elements only drives the tension even harder. Accompanied by two more seasoned travellers, Nicky and Danny venture out into the desert in search of their fathers, only to encounter both man-eating donkeys and a crazed murderer. The circumstances of the meeting – at night and in the middle of nowhere – proves to be most unsettlingly effective, as too is the portrayal of the passage of time.
The final act serves as both the story of the elusive Ruth, and the culmination of the entire story. Here each separate narrative strand, which has been slowly winding together through Day’s remarkable storytelling, is suddenly tightly coiled. The wife of Louis, object of James’s unhinged desire, and mother of Danny, Ruth sits at the very centre of the tale. We learn about her own sad past, the one shared with James and Louis, and how it has made her the woman she has become. She proves to be as fallible as any other human being, and revelations soon spill out to bring the story to an explosive ending.
The structure of the story – delivered in four parts and with details hinted at in earlier pages to be unfurled later – is handled with such intricate care that can only be attributed to a gifted storyteller. Whether plotter or pantser, it takes an author of tremendous skill and determination to pull it off. The unique voice of each narrator is captured perfectly; even the voice of one of the most wicked characters we’ve ever encountered, which would be troubling, if Day’s warmth and generosity weren’t so widely displayed through his online interactions with fans. That such a well-balanced author can so easily convey the darkness at the heart of a monster is equally awe-inspiring and envy-inducing. And his command of language is breath-taking. We used the term “endlessly quotable” earlier and we’d challenge any reader to go more than a couple of pages without finding a sentence or passage that doesn’t evoke emotion or imagery. Not everyone enjoys rereading a book, but this one is filled with so much great content and literary references (some of which no doubt went over our heads first time around) that it will surely be as rewarding after the third or fourth read as it was the first time.
With Grind Your Bones to Dust, Day takes us on a tense journey down a dark, desolate road. And the lights are out. Veer too much to one side and we are rewarded with unapologetic violence, both natural and supernatural. Pull to the other side and we experience the full range of human emotion through the eyes of wonderfully vivid characters, including one man gripped by madness and another who is haunted by it. And it isn't our hands on the steering wheel. All we can do is sit back, put our faith in our guide, and enjoy the ride. The perfect blend of character, voice and setting, Grind Your Bones to Dust is cause for celebration. As is an author whose tremendous ability as a storyteller is only growing with every publication.
Part two is singularly set on the troubled and disturbing mind of Louis’s brother, James Hayte. Obsessed with finding “his” Ruth (Louis’s wife), he ventures out of the forest home he shared with his father and embarks on a blood-soaked mission. He offers pearls of wisdom and preaching to anyone he meets, yet they are never words of comfort and are more likely to send chills down the spine of anyone who encounters him, including the reader. His are the actions of a depraved madman, the acts of gratuitous violence shocking and wicked. But it is clear to us that Day doesn’t include these moments simply for shock value; this is a truly disturbed and violent character, and the author seems to be only committed to portraying his characters in the most genuine and natural way. Once James is unleashed on the surrounding community who either help him find his Ruth or suffer the consequences of their unwillingness, his character unravels in the most naturally malevolent way possible. The extremes to which he will go are very chilling and are not for the faint-of-heart but neither is this book. It is beautifully written and endlessly quotable, but Day is unflinching in his devotion to delivering the complete story, which includes the deranged James Hayte. One small glimmer of light in this part is Hayte’s interaction with his companion, a large raven whose skull is devoid of flesh and whose eyes often flash red. The bird identifies itself as Josh Billings, which is the pen name of 19th century American humourist Henry Wheeler Shaw, and its speech is written down on the page as Billings wrote. Although often light-hearted, their interactions don’t disguise the fact that Billings is equally as vicious as Hayte, and often quotes lines from his own work to encourage Hayte on his path.
The third part is told in first person, from the point of view of Elliot’s son, Nicky. He writes a letter to childhood friend, Daniel Loving, pretending it is from Daniel’s mother, Ruth, informing him of his father’s disappearance. When Daniel returns home, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to the friendship than meets the eye, not least of all a simmering resentment. As with the previous acts, layers of detail are subtly added to the back stories of the characters, offering insight in one breath, while creating intrigue in the next. Questions are posed and answered throughout, most often at different times, keeping the reader invested. The friction between family members and friends is compelling enough. But the added dimension of the supernatural and horrific elements only drives the tension even harder. Accompanied by two more seasoned travellers, Nicky and Danny venture out into the desert in search of their fathers, only to encounter both man-eating donkeys and a crazed murderer. The circumstances of the meeting – at night and in the middle of nowhere – proves to be most unsettlingly effective, as too is the portrayal of the passage of time.
The final act serves as both the story of the elusive Ruth, and the culmination of the entire story. Here each separate narrative strand, which has been slowly winding together through Day’s remarkable storytelling, is suddenly tightly coiled. The wife of Louis, object of James’s unhinged desire, and mother of Danny, Ruth sits at the very centre of the tale. We learn about her own sad past, the one shared with James and Louis, and how it has made her the woman she has become. She proves to be as fallible as any other human being, and revelations soon spill out to bring the story to an explosive ending.
The structure of the story – delivered in four parts and with details hinted at in earlier pages to be unfurled later – is handled with such intricate care that can only be attributed to a gifted storyteller. Whether plotter or pantser, it takes an author of tremendous skill and determination to pull it off. The unique voice of each narrator is captured perfectly; even the voice of one of the most wicked characters we’ve ever encountered, which would be troubling, if Day’s warmth and generosity weren’t so widely displayed through his online interactions with fans. That such a well-balanced author can so easily convey the darkness at the heart of a monster is equally awe-inspiring and envy-inducing. And his command of language is breath-taking. We used the term “endlessly quotable” earlier and we’d challenge any reader to go more than a couple of pages without finding a sentence or passage that doesn’t evoke emotion or imagery. Not everyone enjoys rereading a book, but this one is filled with so much great content and literary references (some of which no doubt went over our heads first time around) that it will surely be as rewarding after the third or fourth read as it was the first time.
With Grind Your Bones to Dust, Day takes us on a tense journey down a dark, desolate road. And the lights are out. Veer too much to one side and we are rewarded with unapologetic violence, both natural and supernatural. Pull to the other side and we experience the full range of human emotion through the eyes of wonderfully vivid characters, including one man gripped by madness and another who is haunted by it. And it isn't our hands on the steering wheel. All we can do is sit back, put our faith in our guide, and enjoy the ride. The perfect blend of character, voice and setting, Grind Your Bones to Dust is cause for celebration. As is an author whose tremendous ability as a storyteller is only growing with every publication.
lanternsjourney's review against another edition
4.0
Unapologetically savage!
This story is split into four parts and loosely follows two brothers, James and Louis. Each part of the story is very different in the characters that it follows and those character's flaws and points of view, but the main theme of the book is generally nihilistic. It's kind of a western, but with supernatural elements and really scary man-eating donkeys. I know, weird right? Nicholas Day has a knack for making the weird work though. It's absolutely my jam.
My favorite character was Louis and I loved how much he worshipped death. Once he would deliver a person to death (not kill a victim, the language was more spiritual) he would say how they "could never be any deader" further reinforcing his belief that death is the ultimate good and true Heaven. Louis's quirky poetic raven spirit guide was a perfect balance to his dark tone.
Part three slowed down the pace for me a bit because we meet these two cowboys, one an atheist and one a born again Catholic, who get into a serious discussion about religion. The creepy mood is kept throughout their discussion and backstory, however, and once things escalate they dont let up until the shocking end.
Definitely give this one a try if you're in the mood for something dark, quirky, and disturbingly honest.
This story is split into four parts and loosely follows two brothers, James and Louis. Each part of the story is very different in the characters that it follows and those character's flaws and points of view, but the main theme of the book is generally nihilistic. It's kind of a western, but with supernatural elements and really scary man-eating donkeys. I know, weird right? Nicholas Day has a knack for making the weird work though. It's absolutely my jam.
My favorite character was Louis and I loved how much he worshipped death. Once he would deliver a person to death (not kill a victim, the language was more spiritual) he would say how they "could never be any deader" further reinforcing his belief that death is the ultimate good and true Heaven. Louis's quirky poetic raven spirit guide was a perfect balance to his dark tone.
Part three slowed down the pace for me a bit because we meet these two cowboys, one an atheist and one a born again Catholic, who get into a serious discussion about religion. The creepy mood is kept throughout their discussion and backstory, however, and once things escalate they dont let up until the shocking end.
Definitely give this one a try if you're in the mood for something dark, quirky, and disturbingly honest.
alexanderp's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Day does it again. He brings together a literary sensibility to the weird, bizarre, and horrific setting that is western Oregon.
There are some large content warnings, such as extreme violence, rape, and suicide, but it is done with as much finesse as Day seems to allow.
It feels like a blend of McCarthy, True Detective, and O'Connor rolled into one. This may be Day's debut novel, but he has been around for a bit and he continues to be one to watch.
There are some large content warnings, such as extreme violence, rape, and suicide, but it is done with as much finesse as Day seems to allow.
It feels like a blend of McCarthy, True Detective, and O'Connor rolled into one. This may be Day's debut novel, but he has been around for a bit and he continues to be one to watch.
spookishmommy's review against another edition
5.0
Brutal and profound. I dont think I've read anything quite like it.
thomaswjoyce's review
5.0
Essentially it is one story told in four separate, yet intertwining, parts. Each part is told from the point of view of different characters, with their own distinct voices, something Day does so well. The first part begins with Louis Loving running for his life. He and business partner, Elliot, are in the desert surveying land for the new Interstate Highway, when they are attacked by four man-eating donkeys. It sounds ridiculous when put plainly, but the way the attack is described is nothing short of terrifying. It makes for a powerful opening to the book and gives the reader just a glimpse of the tremendous violence they can expect. Louis survives, mainly due to the actions of a local farmer and his family who are familiar with the terrifying beasts. But the action quickly escalates and the stakes are raised. Day sprinkles nuggets of information throughout the narrative, hinting at the wife and child Louis has left behind to travel the country surveying with his best friend, and a tense relationship with his brother. It all makes for compelling reading. As does the voice of the characters, speaking with the cadence of honest, hardworking, simple folk, yet brimming with intelligence and fascinating insight.
Part two is singularly set on the troubled and disturbing mind of Louis’s brother, James Hayte. Obsessed with finding “his” Ruth (Louis’s wife), he ventures out of the forest home he shared with his father and embarks on a blood-soaked mission. He offers pearls of wisdom and preaching to anyone he meets, yet they are never words of comfort and are more likely to send chills down the spine of anyone who encounters him, including the reader. His are the actions of a depraved madman, the acts of gratuitous violence shocking and wicked. But it is clear to us that Day doesn’t include these moments simply for shock value; this is a truly disturbed and violent character, and the author seems to be only committed to portraying his characters in the most genuine and natural way. Once James is unleashed on the surrounding community who either help him find his Ruth or suffer the consequences of their unwillingness, his character unravels in the most naturally malevolent way possible. The extremes to which he will go are very chilling and are not for the faint-of-heart but neither is this book. It is beautifully written and endlessly quotable, but Day is unflinching in his devotion to delivering the complete story, which includes the deranged James Hayte. One small glimmer of light in this part is Hayte’s interaction with his companion, a large raven whose skull is devoid of flesh and whose eyes often flash red. The bird identifies itself as Josh Billings, which is the pen name of 19th century American humourist Henry Wheeler Shaw, and its speech is written down on the page as Billings wrote. Although often light-hearted, their interactions don’t disguise the fact that Billings is equally as vicious as Hayte, and often quotes lines from his own work to encourage Hayte on his path.
The third part is told in first person, from the point of view of Elliot’s son, Nicky. He writes a letter to childhood friend, Daniel Loving, pretending it is from Daniel’s mother, Ruth, informing him of his father’s disappearance. When Daniel returns home, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to the friendship than meets the eye, not least of all a simmering resentment. As with the previous acts, layers of detail are subtly added to the back stories of the characters, offering insight in one breath, while creating intrigue in the next. Questions are posed and answered throughout, most often at different times, keeping the reader invested. The friction between family members and friends is compelling enough. But the added dimension of the supernatural and horrific elements only drives the tension even harder. Accompanied by two more seasoned travellers, Nicky and Danny venture out into the desert in search of their fathers, only to encounter both man-eating donkeys and a crazed murderer. The circumstances of the meeting – at night and in the middle of nowhere – proves to be most unsettlingly effective, as too is the portrayal of the passage of time.
The final act serves as both the story of the elusive Ruth, and the culmination of the entire story. Here each separate narrative strand, which has been slowly winding together through Day’s remarkable storytelling, is suddenly tightly coiled. The wife of Louis, object of James’s unhinged desire, and mother of Danny, Ruth sits at the very centre of the tale. We learn about her own sad past, the one shared with James and Louis, and how it has made her the woman she has become. She proves to be as fallible as any other human being, and revelations soon spill out to bring the story to an explosive ending.
The structure of the story – delivered in four parts and with details hinted at in earlier pages to be unfurled later – is handled with such intricate care that can only be attributed to a gifted storyteller. Whether plotter or pantser, it takes an author of tremendous skill and determination to pull it off. The unique voice of each narrator is captured perfectly; even the voice of one of the most wicked characters we’ve ever encountered, which would be troubling, if Day’s warmth and generosity weren’t so widely displayed through his online interactions with fans. That such a well-balanced author can so easily convey the darkness at the heart of a monster is equally awe-inspiring and envy-inducing. And his command of language is breath-taking. We used the term “endlessly quotable” earlier and we’d challenge any reader to go more than a couple of pages without finding a sentence or passage that doesn’t evoke emotion or imagery. Not everyone enjoys rereading a book, but this one is filled with so much great content and literary references (some of which no doubt went over our heads first time around) that it will surely be as rewarding after the third or fourth read as it was the first time.
With Grind Your Bones to Dust, Day takes us on a tense journey down a dark, desolate road. And the lights are out. Veer too much to one side and we are rewarded with unapologetic violence, both natural and supernatural. Pull to the other side and we experience the full range of human emotion through the eyes of wonderfully vivid characters, including one man gripped by madness and another who is haunted by it. And it isn't our hands on the steering wheel. All we can do is sit back, put our faith in our guide, and enjoy the ride. The perfect blend of character, voice and setting, Grind Your Bones to Dust is cause for celebration. As is an author whose tremendous ability as a storyteller is only growing with every publication.
Part two is singularly set on the troubled and disturbing mind of Louis’s brother, James Hayte. Obsessed with finding “his” Ruth (Louis’s wife), he ventures out of the forest home he shared with his father and embarks on a blood-soaked mission. He offers pearls of wisdom and preaching to anyone he meets, yet they are never words of comfort and are more likely to send chills down the spine of anyone who encounters him, including the reader. His are the actions of a depraved madman, the acts of gratuitous violence shocking and wicked. But it is clear to us that Day doesn’t include these moments simply for shock value; this is a truly disturbed and violent character, and the author seems to be only committed to portraying his characters in the most genuine and natural way. Once James is unleashed on the surrounding community who either help him find his Ruth or suffer the consequences of their unwillingness, his character unravels in the most naturally malevolent way possible. The extremes to which he will go are very chilling and are not for the faint-of-heart but neither is this book. It is beautifully written and endlessly quotable, but Day is unflinching in his devotion to delivering the complete story, which includes the deranged James Hayte. One small glimmer of light in this part is Hayte’s interaction with his companion, a large raven whose skull is devoid of flesh and whose eyes often flash red. The bird identifies itself as Josh Billings, which is the pen name of 19th century American humourist Henry Wheeler Shaw, and its speech is written down on the page as Billings wrote. Although often light-hearted, their interactions don’t disguise the fact that Billings is equally as vicious as Hayte, and often quotes lines from his own work to encourage Hayte on his path.
The third part is told in first person, from the point of view of Elliot’s son, Nicky. He writes a letter to childhood friend, Daniel Loving, pretending it is from Daniel’s mother, Ruth, informing him of his father’s disappearance. When Daniel returns home, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to the friendship than meets the eye, not least of all a simmering resentment. As with the previous acts, layers of detail are subtly added to the back stories of the characters, offering insight in one breath, while creating intrigue in the next. Questions are posed and answered throughout, most often at different times, keeping the reader invested. The friction between family members and friends is compelling enough. But the added dimension of the supernatural and horrific elements only drives the tension even harder. Accompanied by two more seasoned travellers, Nicky and Danny venture out into the desert in search of their fathers, only to encounter both man-eating donkeys and a crazed murderer. The circumstances of the meeting – at night and in the middle of nowhere – proves to be most unsettlingly effective, as too is the portrayal of the passage of time.
The final act serves as both the story of the elusive Ruth, and the culmination of the entire story. Here each separate narrative strand, which has been slowly winding together through Day’s remarkable storytelling, is suddenly tightly coiled. The wife of Louis, object of James’s unhinged desire, and mother of Danny, Ruth sits at the very centre of the tale. We learn about her own sad past, the one shared with James and Louis, and how it has made her the woman she has become. She proves to be as fallible as any other human being, and revelations soon spill out to bring the story to an explosive ending.
The structure of the story – delivered in four parts and with details hinted at in earlier pages to be unfurled later – is handled with such intricate care that can only be attributed to a gifted storyteller. Whether plotter or pantser, it takes an author of tremendous skill and determination to pull it off. The unique voice of each narrator is captured perfectly; even the voice of one of the most wicked characters we’ve ever encountered, which would be troubling, if Day’s warmth and generosity weren’t so widely displayed through his online interactions with fans. That such a well-balanced author can so easily convey the darkness at the heart of a monster is equally awe-inspiring and envy-inducing. And his command of language is breath-taking. We used the term “endlessly quotable” earlier and we’d challenge any reader to go more than a couple of pages without finding a sentence or passage that doesn’t evoke emotion or imagery. Not everyone enjoys rereading a book, but this one is filled with so much great content and literary references (some of which no doubt went over our heads first time around) that it will surely be as rewarding after the third or fourth read as it was the first time.
With Grind Your Bones to Dust, Day takes us on a tense journey down a dark, desolate road. And the lights are out. Veer too much to one side and we are rewarded with unapologetic violence, both natural and supernatural. Pull to the other side and we experience the full range of human emotion through the eyes of wonderfully vivid characters, including one man gripped by madness and another who is haunted by it. And it isn't our hands on the steering wheel. All we can do is sit back, put our faith in our guide, and enjoy the ride. The perfect blend of character, voice and setting, Grind Your Bones to Dust is cause for celebration. As is an author whose tremendous ability as a storyteller is only growing with every publication.
motherhorror's review
5.0
Review originally published for Cemetery Dance October 7th, 2019
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/review-grind-your-bones-to-dust-nicholas-day/
“Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he’s real. I have seen his work.” No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy
Sometimes the right story, told by the right author, finds itself in your hands at just the right time. I received Grind Your Bones to Dust by Nicholas Day as a printed manuscript, three-hole-punched, brad at the top and the bottom holding the many pages together. It felt special when I held it.
Flipping through, I saw illustrations; striking, intentionally scribbly illustrations of man and beast.
I already knew from reading Nick’s short story collection, Nobody Gets Hurt and Other Lies, what I should expect from his first novel:
The unexpected.
As I devoured this book, I had the distinct feeling that every single word was chosen with meticulous care and concern; no words were added flippantly, wastefully or without great intention. This kind of mindfulness from the author has a mesmerizing effect on me as a reader. This book is so compelling and gripping, my very life was suspended and held in tension until I finished.
Told in four parts, the first three parts are told almost as isolated events. There are small connective threads of familiarity, either with characters or the storyline, woven through so that you know that at some point everything is going to come together and it will be epic. That apex moment of all the points of light intersecting is in part four. The brilliance of it all is breathtaking; literally, the most masterful climax and conclusion. I have never read its equal.
It would be utter ruin if I were to overshare any of this book’s unique storyline. Part One starts right off with the protagonist, Louis Loving, fleeing a strange horror in the middle of the night. You have never encountered predators such as these in all your horror journeys.
Part Two features a villain so unfathomably evil…I could say with confidence that James Hayte is the single most wicked character to ever terrify me in literature. Second, only to Cormac McCarty’s the Judge in Blood Meridian. There are murderous deeds committed you will never want to read again, and Nicholas Day writes them in such a way that you are unlikely to ever forget a single one. Part of me wishes I could scrub them from my mind and part of me wants to applaud Day for being the kind of author who absolutely knows how to write exceptionally memorable acts of violence. He understands that sometimes full detail is not required to project a horrifying act into a reader’s mind. Things can be suggested with just the right words, and it’s more unsettling than full disclosure could ever be.
One of my favorite characters is Billings, a supernatural raven who speaks in these prophetic parables and mysteries. Billings and James somehow find each other and the two of them together are some of my favorite storytelling moments.
Part Three is the introduction of some important characters who are going to lead us back to Part One. This portion of the story provides the reader with some of the best dialog I’ve ever read. Truly some profound words are exchanged and I found myself wanting to either commit everything to memory or furiously scribble down notes, so I did both. It’s in Part Three that I read one of the scariest horror fiction moments I’ve read to this day. It reads like an intense scene in some indie horror movie that is talked about for generations. Once you read it, you’ll know—that’s the scene Sadie was talking about. Like already said, Part Four is Nicholas Day showing us what he’s made of.
He writes like a man possessed as if the very story you’re reading has somehow taken over Day’s being and poured itself out onto the page. I don’t know if Nicholas Day sold his soul at a crossroads to bring us Grind Your Bones to Dust, but this book feels like the result of a pact made with the Devil to bring us the finest horror has to offer. I’m thankful this is his first novel because it is this reader’s opinion it will propel him farther out into the industry and we can plan to enjoy many more novels from him. I’ll be standing in line.
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/review-grind-your-bones-to-dust-nicholas-day/
“Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he’s real. I have seen his work.” No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy
Sometimes the right story, told by the right author, finds itself in your hands at just the right time. I received Grind Your Bones to Dust by Nicholas Day as a printed manuscript, three-hole-punched, brad at the top and the bottom holding the many pages together. It felt special when I held it.
Flipping through, I saw illustrations; striking, intentionally scribbly illustrations of man and beast.
I already knew from reading Nick’s short story collection, Nobody Gets Hurt and Other Lies, what I should expect from his first novel:
The unexpected.
As I devoured this book, I had the distinct feeling that every single word was chosen with meticulous care and concern; no words were added flippantly, wastefully or without great intention. This kind of mindfulness from the author has a mesmerizing effect on me as a reader. This book is so compelling and gripping, my very life was suspended and held in tension until I finished.
Told in four parts, the first three parts are told almost as isolated events. There are small connective threads of familiarity, either with characters or the storyline, woven through so that you know that at some point everything is going to come together and it will be epic. That apex moment of all the points of light intersecting is in part four. The brilliance of it all is breathtaking; literally, the most masterful climax and conclusion. I have never read its equal.
It would be utter ruin if I were to overshare any of this book’s unique storyline. Part One starts right off with the protagonist, Louis Loving, fleeing a strange horror in the middle of the night. You have never encountered predators such as these in all your horror journeys.
Part Two features a villain so unfathomably evil…I could say with confidence that James Hayte is the single most wicked character to ever terrify me in literature. Second, only to Cormac McCarty’s the Judge in Blood Meridian. There are murderous deeds committed you will never want to read again, and Nicholas Day writes them in such a way that you are unlikely to ever forget a single one. Part of me wishes I could scrub them from my mind and part of me wants to applaud Day for being the kind of author who absolutely knows how to write exceptionally memorable acts of violence. He understands that sometimes full detail is not required to project a horrifying act into a reader’s mind. Things can be suggested with just the right words, and it’s more unsettling than full disclosure could ever be.
One of my favorite characters is Billings, a supernatural raven who speaks in these prophetic parables and mysteries. Billings and James somehow find each other and the two of them together are some of my favorite storytelling moments.
Part Three is the introduction of some important characters who are going to lead us back to Part One. This portion of the story provides the reader with some of the best dialog I’ve ever read. Truly some profound words are exchanged and I found myself wanting to either commit everything to memory or furiously scribble down notes, so I did both. It’s in Part Three that I read one of the scariest horror fiction moments I’ve read to this day. It reads like an intense scene in some indie horror movie that is talked about for generations. Once you read it, you’ll know—that’s the scene Sadie was talking about. Like already said, Part Four is Nicholas Day showing us what he’s made of.
He writes like a man possessed as if the very story you’re reading has somehow taken over Day’s being and poured itself out onto the page. I don’t know if Nicholas Day sold his soul at a crossroads to bring us Grind Your Bones to Dust, but this book feels like the result of a pact made with the Devil to bring us the finest horror has to offer. I’m thankful this is his first novel because it is this reader’s opinion it will propel him farther out into the industry and we can plan to enjoy many more novels from him. I’ll be standing in line.